Centrifugal pump.



L. W. BODINSON.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 19H.

Patented Apr. 1Q, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ma da L. W. BOD|NSON. CENTRIFUGAL PUMP. APPLICATION FILED JUNE22, 1911.

Patented Apr. 10,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

L. W. BUDINSON.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

L13. S W. BODINS'ON, 033 Alli-$639., ILLINQIS, A

SSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS,

E Erin-303A, ILLINGIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

QENTRITFUGAL F'UMP.

mm-mun Application filed June 22, 1911.

l" '0 all whom may concern;

Be it known lhat l. him: -W. lloomson', a rili/mn oi the lluilcd rllairs, icsiding at ilurora, in ihc county ol' l'iauc and Stain of lllinois, have invcnicil certain now and awful linprorcnicn'ts in Ucniriiugal luinps, oi which l'hc following is a spccii'ical'ion, rclcrcni-c. living: had in lhe acciaupanying drawings.

My ii'ivrnliou rclatcs lo centrifugal puinps designed nioro cspccially for pumping wa'l'cr at high prcssurc. it has for its objcct to provide; an improrcil coinslruciion of pump in which ihc Mill thrust upon chi-i pumpshal'l; and runner or runnc s due co suction aulonialii-ally counlcractcd so lhal the rumwrs arc balanrcil and amino laicral lririion is aroidcd. My invcnhion also proriilcs nicans for adjusting lxhc couni'cractinc; mechanism so that the balance of the pump may he mainiaincd nolwillisianding rariaii-ons in, the cod thrust due to uncqual prnssurc or suction on tho runners or impcllors. l accomplishthis object as illuslrahril in the drawings and as licrcinai'tcr ilcscribcil. 'lhai ii'hicri l bclicvc to be new is not ioi'lh in ll 1 claims.

in llic accompanying drawingk- Figure. l a side clcralion oi my improrcil pump the dischargzjc pipc lining; in sci-l ion Fig. 2 is a longitudinal rcrlical section thin-col"; and

Fig. 3 is a partial \ci'liral section sl'iow inc lhc pinup proi'idcd with means for adjusling lhc counteracting inccluinisin or balancin; moans.

My iuiprorod pump rompriscs a pumpsha'll lllUiilil'Lll in suiiahlc hcaring's and proriilcd will] our or morn runncrs or inniellors which arc fixedly mounted on l'hc shaft and by lhcir roliaiion operate to lift the water from the well by sin-lion. The runnors arc arrangicil in scrcral chambers which coinmunicatc with onc another siicccssivcly the last chauihcr discharging inlo an outlet )ipc. In tho construction shown tho shajt is mountcil in a horizontal position and conncclacil with a suilahlc source of power such as a lnoloig, by a flexible coupling. (lip riously, whoa the pump is in i'i 'icration the suction due to ihc rotation of the runners Specification of Letters la'tent.

llntentcd 1 1131310, 1917.

Serial no. 634,734.

creates a tcndcncy in the shaft to more endwisc toward thc inlct and this, if not compcnsatcd for, will cause the runners to bear a gaiasl; onc side of the casing and cause friclion. 'lo counteract this effect I provide moans acted upon by the water passing through the pump to more the shaft in the opposite dircction,-such counteracting moans being properly proportioned so as to oil'sei: or neutralize the effect of unequal pressure or suction. Such counteracting mechanism comprises, in the construction shown, a disk or piston arranged in a balancing chamber separate from but communicating with one of thc runner chambers through a suitable passage, and connected with (he pump-shaft, so that when the shaft is moved slightly toward the inlet end of the pump by suction said piston acts to restrict the area of the outlet from said passage and onscqucnlly the pressure of the water tends lo more the piston and shaft in the opposite direction. A device is also provided opposilc the inlet to said passage, which acts to enlarge said inlet when the outlet is rcstricted and to restrict the area of the inlet when the outlet is enlarged. This operation continues throughout the operation of tho pump so that the practical cflect is to maintain lhe shaft at all times in proper operative position.

Referring to the drawings,

5 indicates a bed-plate or foundation on which the pump is mounted. 67 indicate respectively, the lower "and upper members of the casing, which, in the construction shown, is made in two semi-cylindrical parts forming a longitudinally split housing. The lowcr member (3 of the casing is providcil with an inlet 8 at one end, which communicates with a suction pipe 9 and with an outlol 10 which communicates with a discharge pipe 11, as shown in Fig. 1. 12 indicalcs a pump-shaft, which, as best shown in Fig. 2, is mounted in suitable bearings 13*14. ofciny suitable description. 15 indicates a flcxiblccoupling provided at one end of the shaft 12, by which it may be connected to a motor, or any other suitable source of power. This coupling forms no part of my present invention and any other suitable means may be'employcd for con 45' an'c'ing piston, which 18 mounted on the necting the pump-shaft with the source of power. 1617 indicate stufling boxesfor preventing leakage around the shaft 12. 18-19.-20 indicate runners or impellers, which are mounted upon and, keyed to the shaft 12, being placed thereon at suitable ,1 intervals and arranged. to rotate, 'respectively, in 'runne'r or r'essure chambers 21-22':23. 24.'25 "an 26-1-27 indicate partitions or diaphragins which separate e interior of the easing into the' several runner or pressure chambers, and 28 -29 indicate passagesthrough which water flows from, the runner chamber 21 to the runner chainher22 and from the, chamber 22 to the chamber 2-3, respectively, so that water en.-- tcring the pump through the inlet 8 flows through. runner chamber 21 to runner, chamber 22 and. thence to runner chamber 23 and is then discharged through the outlet 10.

'The partitions26-27 'form ne-piec'e circular division walls which possess important advantages 1 over prior constructions in -which such division walls are made in 25 halves in that they are cheaper to manufacture and make packing joints between the runner chambers unnecessary. The. parti 'tions 2627 are held in place by machined? of the pump housing, and are held against [rotation by; dowel [pins 28*, as shown in Fig.2. 30 indicatsa sleeve screwed upon the pump-shaft 12 adjacent to the runner. 18"for-holding saidf'runner in position on the shaft, and" 3132 indicate spacing sleeves mounted" .on the shaft 12 between runners 18-'l9 and 19-920, respectively. "33- 34 indicate pipes leading from the 'stuiiing-boxes 161'( to and communicating with the interior of the pump 'forforming water'seals' for said [stuffing boxes. 7 35"- 'indicates'"a:v balancing chamber at, the

outlet endof the pum ing mechanism and partly separated-there mm by a diaphragm; or partition 36-. '37 indicates a disk or balf pump-shaft 12 in'the chamber 35 and rotates f wi'th said shaft. The'shaft 12, with the imf-"pellers and other parts carried by it, may be termed the f rotor.;-' 38 indicates a collar or hubalsdniounted on the shaft 12 and rotating therewith, said collaixbeing placed in therunner chamber 23, as shown in Fig. 2.. -i he';collar'38 is of somewhat less diameter an-the'piston 37, as shown in Fig. 2,-and

qfprms an annual shoulder which cotiperates/ "with a'shoulder on the partition 36, as here- 'inafteri described. 39 indicates a sleeve, .which is fitted in the opening or passage in the partition 36 around the shaft 12, its internal diameter being somewhat greater than that of the shaft 12 forming practical-lyan ..extension thereof and of a sleeve 40 which, 1 intheconstruction shown in Fig. 2, forms a .With the opposing face of the piston 37 to form a. pressure chamber leading to the waste chamber 35. .It will be apparent that .thearea of the inlet tothe passage 41 is variable b longitudinal movement of the pump-sha t 12, as when said shaft moves to the right the collar 38 is moved toward the opposing face or shoulder of the sleeve 39, reducing the area of the inlet to the passage 41 and closing such inlet completely if and when said parts are brou ht into close contact with each other. ovement of the "pump-shaft in the opposite direction increases the area' of the inlet. The outlet from the pressure chamber formed by the piston 37 and the opposin face of the sleeve 39,'which, as shown in ig. 2, are preferably recessed,-also varies with the longitudinal movement of the pump-shaft, but

I fits variation is opposite to that of the inlet shoulders -24t+25=-.26 -27? on the inside 5 to -the passage 41, since movement of the pump-shaft to the right carries the piston 37 away from the opposing face ofthe sleeve 39, whlle movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction'moves the piston 37 toward the partition and consequently reduces the area of the outlet from said pressure chamber simultaneousl with the enlargement of the area of the in ct to the passage 41. The outlet from the ressure chamber will be entirely closed if tl the piston 37 is brought into close contact with the outer face or shoulder of the sleeve 39. By employing cooperating members ion 1e inner face or shoulder of i having fiat faces, a more effective operation is secured, since the opposing flat surfaces when in contact make a tight closure, and.

there is practically no wear-such as occurs where a piston sliding in a cylinder is used.

The piston 37 and the collar 38 are set far enough apart so that when one of said parts is in contact with the adjacent face of the sleeve 39 the other member is separated therefrom. When the arts are in a neutral position, as shown in *ig. 2, neither of said members is in contact with the sleeve 39. 42 indicates a pipe leading from the chamber 35 to the inlet passage 8, said pipe providing means for discharging water admitted to the chamber 35.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows: When the pump is in operation it acts to suck water up through the inlet 8 and to discharge it through outlet 10. The efi'ect of the suction is to give the shaft 12 a tendency to move to the left, as

shown in Fig. 2, thus enlarging the inlet to the passage 41 and reducing the area. of the outlet from the pressure chamber with which the passage t1 communicates, thereby permitting water from the runner chamber 23 to flow freely through the passage 41 and act against the inner face of the piston 37 in opposition to the force tendii'ig to move the pump-shaft to the left. So long as the latter force predominates, the pump-shaft will move to the left, further closing the outlet from the pressure chamber and simultaneously enlarging the inlet to the'passa 51c 41 until the force causing the movement of the shaft to the left is neutralized and a state of balance is attained. If afterward the pump suction is reduced, the effect of the water pressure upon the piston 37 will tend to move the pumpshaft to the right, which, however, will at once enlarge the outlet from the pressure chamber and reduce the inlet to the pas sage 41 by moving the piston 37 and collar 38 to the right, thereby reducing the pressure upon the piston 37 until a state of equilibrium is again attained. These operations are repeated from time to time as during; its operation the balance of the pump is disturbed. Of course the extent of movement of the sh: ft involved in this operation is very slight and is unobjcctionable, but the practical effect of the operation is to maintain the runners in a balanced condition so that lateral friction is avoided.

l1 Fig. 3 l have illustrated the applicatioi lo the balancing mechanism of means by which said mechanism ma} be adjusted when necessary. This construction differs from that first described only in that l employ a piston 4-3 which is practically the same as the piston 37 except that it is provided with a sleeve 44 mounted on screw threads on a pump-shaft 45 which is similar in other respects to the shaft 12. Thus the space bctwccn the piston 4-3 and collar 38 may be varied and regulated to suit operal-ing conditions. For holding the piston ill in position, in addition to the screwthrcads I provide a lock-nut 45" and a sctscrew 46, shown in Fig. 3.

My invention is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described, except in so far as it is particularly claimed, but includes generically the subject-n'iatier of the broader claims.

It will be understood that my improved balancing means may be applied to vertical as well as to horizontal pumps.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

l. A centrifugal pmnp, comprising i pumpshaft, an impeller mounted thereon, i chamber in which. said impeller rotatcs, a. passage leading, from the impeller chamber to a pressure chamber, and means operated &

by moven'ient of the nunp-shali ioward the pump inlet to enlarge the area ol' the inlct to said passage and reduce thc arca of the outlet from said pressure chamber, and vice versa.

2. A centrifugal pump, comprising a pump, comprising: a

pinup-shaft, an il'npcllcr mountcd thereon, a

chamber in which said impeller rolatcs, a partition at one side of said clnnnbcr having a passage thcrethrougjh, and means at opposite sides of said partition forming a variable inlet to said passage and a pressure chamber into which said passage discharges, said means being movable with the pumpshaft to inversely vary the area of the inlet to said passage and the outlet from said pressure 'chau'iber.

i. A cenlri'lugal pump, comprising, a pun'ip-shaft, an impcllcr mounlcd lhcrcon, a chamber in which said impcllcr rotaics, a partition at one side of said chamber having a passage therethroug 'h, means at opposite sides of said partilion forming a variablc inlet to said passage and a pressure chambcr into which said passage discharges, said means being movable with the pump-shaft to inversely vary the arca of the inlet to said passage and lhc outlet from said pressure chamber, aml a pipe for conducting fluid discharged from said prcssurc chambcr to the pump inlet.

5. A centrifugal pump, comprising pump-shaft, an impcllcr mounted thereon, chamber in which said impcllcr rotalcs, a passage leading, from the. inipcllcr chainbcr to a pressure chamber, and mcans mounted on the pun'ipshal't and operated by movement thcreof toward the pump inlet in enlarg'e the area. of the inlet to said passage and reduce the area of the outlcl. from said pressure chamber, and vice versa.

(3. A centri'iugal pump, comprising a. pump-shaft, a runncr mounted thereon, a runner chamber having, inlct and outlet openings, a piston chamber, partition bctwecn said runner and piston chambcrs. said partition having" an opcning" around lhe pump-shaft, a sleeve liltcd in said opening,

lhe internal diameter of said slccvc.b ain;

runner chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a piston chamber communicating with said runner chamber through a passage, a piston mounted on said pump-shaft in said piston chamber and movable longitndinally with the pump-shaft toward and i from one end of said passage, means mounted on the pump-shaft onnosite the other end of said passage and movable longitudinally with the pump-shaft to open or close said passage, and means for adjusting said piston longitudinally of the shaft.

pump-shaft, a runner mounted thereon, a.

8. A centritugal pump, comprising a i chamber in which said runner operates, said .endwise-movable sha t,

'chaiiiiber having inlet and outlet openings, piston mounted on said shaft, a chamber crating with said piston for causing the same in whiehfsaid piston operates, means coop- 'to be automaticall moved awa -from the inlet opening by t e pressure 0 the water pumped when the r'unner'is moved by suction toward the inlet opening, and meansfor adjusting theposition of the piston upon the shaft.

9;} A centrifugal pump, comprising an endwise-movable shaft, a runner mounted thereon and rotating therewith, a chamber in which said runner operates, said chamber having inlet and outletopenings, a piston chamber surrounding said shaft and adapted to pommunicate with said runner chamber, aipiston in said chamber and mounted on said shaft, means operated by the movement of the runner toward the inlet opening for subjecting said piston to the pressure of the water pumped, and means for adjusting the position of the piston upon the shaft.

10. A centrifugal ump, comprising an a runner mounted thereon, a runner-chamber having inlet and outlet openings, and manually adjustable means actuated by the pressure of the water pumped to move ,the runner away from the inlet openings.

11. A centrifugal pump, comprising a pump-shaft, a runner mounted thereon,.a chamber 1n which said runner operates, said chamberhaving inlet and outlet openings,

and a manually adjustable piston actuated by the pressure of the water pumped to counteract the effect ofsuction upon the runner.

12. A centrifugal pump, com rising a,

pump-shaft, a runner mounted t ereon, a chamber 1n whlch said runner operates, said chamber having inlet and outlet opemngs, a

when the runner is moved by suction towardthe inlet opening.

13. A centrifugal pump, comprising a runner chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a runner mounted in said chamber and movable toward and from the inlet opening, and manually adjustable means operated by the pressure of the water pumped to move the runner away from the inlet opening.

14. In a centrifugal pump, a rotor comprising an impeller and a balancing piston behind said impeller, a casing inclosing said rotor and having an inlet and a discharge, said casing having a partition projecting in ward toward the machine axis and located between the balancingpiston and the im eller to thereby form a balancing cham er between the partition and the piston, there being pressure chambers at the front and rear of the impeller in communication with the pump discharge, also a waste duct part of which is behind the piston, said waste duct leading from the rim of the piston to the pump inlet, a pair of coiiperating annular shoulders one on said partition and the other on the rotor hub adapted to permit an increased flow from the rear pressure chamber into the balancing chamber when the rotor moves laterally forward toward the pump inlet and throttles the flow when the rotor moves rearward, and a second pair of eotiperatmg annular shoulders one on said piston and the other on said casing adapted to permit an increased flow from said balancing chamber to said waste duct when said rotor moves rearward and throttle the flow when said rotor moves forward.

15. In a centrifugal pump, turbine, or similar machine, the combination of a casing having an inlet anda discharge, a rotary impeller coiiperat'ing with the casing to form a pressure chamber between the casing and the rear of the impeller, a balancing piston at the rear of the impeller moving in unison therewith, a centrally apertured removable partition plate in said casing forming the rear of said pressure chamber and the front of a balancing chamber, the rear of the balancing chamber being formed by said iston a pair of int'erfitting shoulders, one armed on the impellerhub and'the other at the central aperture of said plate,

said shoulders being so formed asto increase the flow from the pressure chamber into the central aperture of the plate when the imf peller moves laterally forward toward the inlet of the machine, a second pair of interfitting annular shoulders one of which forms the rim of the piston and the other of which is formed on the said plate, said second pair of shoulders being so formed and located as to permit an increased flow from the balancing chamber when the piston moves rearward and a duct leading from the rim of the piston to the inlet of the machine.

16. A centrifugal pump, comprising a casing split longitudinally, a pump-shaft, an impeller mounted thereon, a chamber in which said impeller rotates, a partition at one side of said chamber composed of members integral with the members of the easing, a passage in the members of said parti tion through which the pumpshaft extends, a sleeve mounted on the pump-shaft and eX- tending through said passage, said sleeve having members cooperating with the partition to form a variable inlet at one end of said passage, and a pressure chai'nber into which said passage discharges, said sleeve being movable with the pump-shaft to vary the area of the inlet to said passage and to inversely vary the outlet from said pressure chamber.

17. A centrifugal. pump, comprising a shaft, an impeller mounted thereon, a casing forming a runner chamber and having an inlet and a discharge, a partition adjacent to said impeller chamber, a passage through said partition, a piston mounted opposite the discharge end of said passage and cooperating with said partition to form a pressure chamber, said piston being movable with said shaft toward and from said passage to vary the area of the outlet from said pres sure chamber when said shait moves longitudinally, and means carried by said shaft at the opposite end of said passage and movable toward and a my therefrom to vary the area of the inlet to said passage when said shaft moves longitudinally, the arrzmgement being such that the inlet to said passage is restricted simultaneously with the enlargement of the outlet from said pressure chamber, and vice versa.

18. A centrifugal pump, comprising a shaft, an impeller mounted thereon, a asing, forming a runner chamber and having an inlet-and a discharge, a partition adjacent to said impeller chamber, a passage through said partition, a piston mounted opposite the discharge end of said passage and cooperating with said partition to form a pressure chamber, said piston being movable with said shaft toward and from said passage to vary the area of the outlet from said pressure chamber when said shaft moves longitudinally, means carried by said shaft at the opposite end of said passage and movable toward and away therefrom to vary the area of the inlet to said passage when said shaft moves longitudinally, the arrangement being such that the inlet to said passage is restricted sil'nultaneously with the enlargement of the outlet from said pressure chamber, and vice versa, and means for conducting the efliucnt from said pressure rhan'ibcr to the pump inlet.

19, A centrifugal pump. comprising a shaft, an impeller mounted thereon, a casing forming a runner chamber and having an inlet and a discharge, a partition adjacent to said impeller chamber, a passage through said partition, a stationary member fitted in said passage and having inner and outer faces, a piston mounted opposite the discharge end of said passage and cooperating with the outer face or said stationary member to form a pressure chamber, aid piston being movable with said shat't toward and from said stationary member to vary the area of the outlet from said pressure chamber when said shai' u'iorcs iinigitudinally, and means carried by said shaft a the opposite end'oi said p age and movable toward and from the inn face (Ti said stationary member to vary the inlet to said passage when said shattmoves longitudinally, the arrangement being such that the inlet to said passage is restricted simultaneously with the enlargement of the outlet from the pressure chamber, and vice versa 20. A. centrifugal pump, comprising a shaft, an impeller mounted thereon, a casing fol-lining a runner chamber and having an inlet and a discharge, a partition adjacent said impeller chamber, a passage through said partition, a stationary member fitted in said passage and having inner and outer faces, a piston mounted opposite the discharge end of said 'iassage and cooperating with the outer face of said stationary meniher to form a pressure chamber, said piston being movable with said shaft toward and from said stationary member to vary the area of the outlet from said pressure chamber when Sillil shaft moves longitudinally, means carried by said shaft at the opposite end of said 'iassagre and movable toward and from the inner face of said stationary mam-- her to vary the inlet to said passage when said sha i't moves longiti'idinally ment being such that the inlet to said passage is restricted simullanxiously with the enlargement of the outlet From the pressure chan'iber, and vice versa, and a conduit for conducting the eiiiuent from said pressure chamber to the inlet oi" the pump.

21. A centrifugal pump, com 'irising a shaft, an inig'ieller molmted thereon, a longi tudinally split casing Forming a runner chamber and having an inlet and a discharge, a partition adjacent to said impeller chamher, a passage thri'iugh said partition, a stationary member fitted in said passage and held in position. by the members of the casing the a range and having inner and outer faces, a piston passage and cooperating, with the outer face of said stationary member to form a presmounted oppositethe discharge end of said sure chamber, said piston being movable with said shaft toward and from said stationary member to vary thearea of the outlet from said] pressure chamber when said shaft moves longitudinally, and means carried by said shaft at the opposite end of said passage and movable toward and from the inner face of said stationary member to vary the inlet to said passage when said shaft moves longitudinally, the arrangement being such that the inlet to said passage is re- 15 strlcted simultaneously with the enlargement of the outlet from the pressure chamber, and

R. D. MAHOFFEY, W. E. KNICKERBOG ER. 

